BKHS Environmental Sustainability

“Science and religion, with their distinctive approaches to understanding reality, can enter into an intense dialogue fruitful for both.”

Encyclical Letter: Laudato Si’ Of The Holy Father Francis on Care for Our Common Home

As a faith-based school in the Catholic tradition, we are guided by the papal encyclical, Laudato Si’ on the care of our common home.  We invite our entire Bishop Kenny community to cultivate environmentally-conscious decisions that support the well-being and sustainability of our planet and society through practices on and off our campus.

1. Laudato Si’
2. USCCB - Global Climate Change A Plea for Dialogue Prudence and the Common Good

Bishop Kenny is focusing its environmental sustainability initiatives through the following programs:

Religion Initiatives

• Through religion classes students are introduced to the Biblical accounts of creation which teach us about the dignity of humankind, made in God’s image, call us to be caretakers of one another and stewards of the earth.
• Faith formation includes preparing our students to examine the moral implications of contemporary social justice and global issues in an ever-changing society.
• Through service projects, charitable drives, such as the Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive, recycling clothing and household products in support of Catholic Charities office of Refugee Resettlement, and fundraising for natural disaster relief, students demonstrate care for one another and creation.

Physical Facilities Initiatives

• We are reducing our carbon footprint by converting halogen and fluorescent lighting to energy-efficient LED technology.
• HVAC Systems are being replaced and repaired with consideration of Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio
• 27 hydration stations have been installed on campus to provide access to filtered water, encouraging the use of refillable drinking containers and thus reducing the consumption of disposable plastic bottles
• Providing recycling options such as paper, plastic, aluminum, cardboard, and K-cups which have improved waste management efforts that positively impact the triple bottom line.
• Performing a feasibility study in which we have determined how solar energy will be included in future capital projects.

Science Initiatives

• Each month the Anchor Club promotes environmental sustainability by leading the plastic bag recycling initiative and hosting cleanup sessions to remove debris and trash along the campus river front.  Our Marine Science classes incorporate the importance of recycling plastic and the effect it has on Jacksonville’s waterways.

See the information below for more details on the impact these programs are having on campus and in making Bishop Kenny a more environmentally-conscious community.